Australia in their huddle, this will be a test for their attack. Johnson's last Test was against South Africa as well, at the Wanderers over a year ago. It will be Starc to open the bowling to Smith. Three slips, two gullys, and a short leg

10 amSouth Africa have won the toss. They will bat

Philander and Peterson are in, and Dean Elgar is making his Test debut. Kleinveldt, Tahir and Rudolph are out. And Kallis is fit enough to play, though only as a batsman

Australia's pace attack reads Johnson, Starc, Hastings as opposed to Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Pattinson. And Watson is in for Quiney

dhruv: "If you were asked to define Dominance , a picture of Ricky Ponting with all of his trophies would define it !"

Ryan: "Perhaps Kallis is in better shape than they're letting on and may have a sneaky spell on day 4/5? Can't think of any other reason to pick only 3 seamers and have Faf at 7." Yes, who knows he might do a Tino Best, limp off in the first innings and take a match-winning six-for in the second

getaclue: "Very happy they went with Hastings over Hazlewood. Form over 'potential' - Hazlewood hasnt done much at Shield level this year, or ever."

Here Peter: "Very interesting from the Aussies: on a pacy track, their attack now consists of the ever-reliable Johnson as leader and a pair of untried newbies. Along with Watson's reliable body. Certainly happy to take risks aren't they..."

Ian: "For mine, Hastings offers much the same as Watson. I would have thought the pace and bounce of Hazlewood would give our attack better variety....but maybe they don't want to thrust him in to such a high-pressure, high-stakes test with so little international experience?" For whatever its worth Ian, it would have been Hazlewood for me too.

Alex: "Yes! So happy to see The Duke play. He thoroughly deserves his spot and I hope he can be a bowling all-rounder option for years to come. He's also a PE teacher so you'd think he'd be good at managing injuries!" Alex, think he'll do well as long as he does not run into days like the one Siddle had in Adelaide.

9.55 am Do Australia have anything left in the tank? Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus don't, which means John Hastings will make his Test debut. He was handed his baggy green cap some time back by Adam Gilchrist. Looks like Josh Hazlewood will be 12th man

9.50 am Right, cannot avoid the topic any longer. My first reaction when I saw the news yesterday was, wait, who is going to play all those defiant pulls now? For me, that is the stroke that defined the man, although he could play all of them as well as anyone ever did. Well, for one last time then, at the WACA ...

9.40 am Welcome to our coverage of the third and final Test between Australia and South Africa, in Perth. The No. 1 ranking is on the line, Australia can claim it with a win, South Africa can remain on top with a draw, something they achieved against all odds in Adelaide. There is not much that separates the top sides these days, and I think too much is made of South Africa not getting the big wins consistently. As they showed in Adelaide, a top team is also one which just refuses to be beaten.

Starc to Smith,
1 run,
that has straightened on middle stump from a good length, but Smith has shuffled so much across he is easily able to tuck it past the short leg behind square

0.2

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
some bounce, but not too much bite, back of a length, brought down onto the pitch off the back foot

0.3

Starc to Petersen,
1 run,
full, swinging in, on the pads and sent away to fine leg

Smith pulls out as Starc nears the bowling crease

0.4

Starc to Smith,
no run,
moving away and climbing from just short of a length, defended carefully down the pitch

0.5

Starc to Smith,
no run,
thick edge produced now with a pitched up ball that straightens late, Smith pushes at it, and runs it along to the first of the gullys

0.6

Starc to Smith,
2 runs,
pitched up, Smith shuffling across again, nearly loses his balance but manages to work it from off through midwicket

End of over 1 (4 runs)
South Africa 4/0

GC Smith3 (4b)

AN Petersen1 (2b)

MA Starc1-0-4-0

John Hastings to bowl his first over in Test cricket

1.1

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
and he sends it comfortably down the leg side from short of a length, long bustling run-up, not much venom in that delivery though

1.2

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
good length now, angled into middle and leg, rolls away to short leg

1.3

Hastings to Petersen,
2 runs,
overpitched, around off, and it is clipped in front of square leg, not timed all that well

1.4

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
that is a lovely line, just outside off, and the length has got Petersen forward, and the slight straightening has beaten his push

1.5

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
similar length, line closer to off, he gets behind the line this time and defends down the pitch

1.6

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
pitched up, widish, Petersen pats it back

End of over 2 (2 runs)
South Africa 6/0

AN Petersen3 (8b)

GC Smith3 (4b)

JW Hastings1-0-2-0

MA Starc1-0-4-0

Jeremy: "Interesting Johnson is not bowling as an opening bowler, on the WACA with a new ball. Does this indicate Australia's lack of confidence in him as a strike bowler?"

2.1

Starc to Smith,
1 run,
that bounced, and Smith moved across to work it past short leg, not exactly in control, that was in the air for some time

2.2

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
back of a length, climbing and straightening outside off, allowed to go past

2.3

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
more bounce, makes him hop now, line close enough to off stump to make him play, just evades the edge

2.4

Starc to Petersen,
1 run,
and then he pitches it up full and onto off, swinging in late, Peterson plays it well, softly opens the face and dabs it to off

2.5

Starc to Smith,
1 run,
Smith is moving across once again, and nudging the shortish delivery to fine leg

2.6

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
angled across the right-hander, widish outside off, left alone

End of over 3 (3 runs)
South Africa 9/0

AN Petersen4 (12b)

GC Smith5 (6b)

MA Starc2-0-7-0

JW Hastings1-0-2-0

3.1

Hastings to Smith,
no run,
neat line, some zip as it moves slightly away from a length around off, Smith lets it go

3.2

Hastings to Smith,
no run,
another one with the angle across the left-hander, Smith moves towards the line and raises his bat

3.3

Hastings to Smith,
no run,
another leave outside off, bounce this time for Hastings

3.4

Hastings to Smith,
no run,
pitched up now, around off, makes him play and Smith defends solidly to mid on

3.5

Hastings to Smith,
2 runs,
he's clipped a fullish delivery from just outside off past short leg, closing the face of the bat

3.6

Hastings to Smith,
no run,
bounce, but easily handled, blocked out to the off side

End of over 4 (2 runs)
South Africa 11/0

GC Smith7 (12b)

AN Petersen4 (12b)

JW Hastings2-0-4-0

MA Starc2-0-7-0

4.1

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
umpire Kettleborough thinks long, and ultimately raises his finger after Petersen is hit on the pad, South Africa are reviewing it, that has pitched middle on a good length, and moved in appreciably, its hit a half-forward Petersen on the knee roll, there is no inside edge on the HotSpot, and the ball tracker shows it going over leg stump, the WACA bounce wins, Petersen stays, Starc walks back to bowl again

4.2

Starc to Petersen,
2 leg byes,
tries the same delivery but this time Petersen stays in the crease and works it past short leg

4.3

Starc to Petersen,
FOUR,
moving in again, more zip this time, and worked crisply fine down the leg side

4.4

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
Starc is at it again, now he beats Petersen with a lifter outside off stump, the line again good enough to make the batsman push at it

4.5

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
back of a length, outside off, and left with the angle

4.6

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
nicely forward to a pitched up delivery around off and blocks

End of over 5 (6 runs)
South Africa 17/0

AN Petersen8 (18b 1x4)

GC Smith7 (12b)

MA Starc3-0-11-0

JW Hastings2-0-4-0

Hastings round the stumps

5.1

Hastings to Smith,
1 run,
shortish, straight and wide outside off, he does not get hold of the cut all too well

5.2

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
straight again and outside off again, he moves across outside off and lets it go

5.3

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
bounce, but slow, without threat, and easily defended down the pitch

5.4

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
rising from just back of a length, outside off, played out without trouble

5.5

Hastings to Petersen,
1 run,
this one nips in a shade from a good length outside off, he plays it well in the end, softly nudging it past short leg

5.6

Hastings to Smith,
no run,
lunging forward to the pitch of a full delivery outside off and blocking it

End of over 6 (2 runs)
South Africa 19/0

GC Smith8 (14b)

AN Petersen9 (22b 1x4)

JW Hastings3-0-6-0

MA Starc3-0-11-0

6.1

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
that could have been close, Cowan let go of the ball quickly from short leg, missed, Petersen would have been just in I reckon, he'd thick inside-edged it earlier

6.2

Starc to Petersen,
FOUR,
short, widish outside off and this time Petersen pulls it along the ground through midwicket

6.3

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
full toss now, but he runs it straight to gully

6.4

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
way too far outside off stump, really sprayed that one, Starc

6.5

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
its another one of those lifters, from just back of a length, and again Starc's line is good enough to beat the batsman, but his luck is not bright enough to produce the edge

6.6

Starc to Petersen,
FOUR,
tries the full delivery, but sends it down as a low full toss which is clipped easily past short leg

End of over 7 (8 runs)
South Africa 27/0

AN Petersen17 (28b 3x4)

GC Smith8 (14b)

MA Starc4-0-19-0

JW Hastings3-0-6-0

Here is Shane Watson, replacing Hastings

7.1

Watson to Smith,
no run,
nice bounce, short of a length, held its line a shade, but far outside off, left alone

7.2

Watson to Smith,
2 runs,
moving in from a length, and worked behind square leg for a couple

7.3

Watson to Smith,
no run,
very full one around off, Smith lunges across and dead-bats it

7.4

Watson to Smith,
1 run,
worked towards midwicket now for a single, not much happening for Australia, apart from a few of those lifters from Starc

Watson to Petersen,
no run,
goes full for the stumps, Petersen drives, mid on gets across to cut it off

End of over 8 (3 runs)
South Africa 30/0

AN Petersen17 (30b 3x4)

GC Smith11 (18b)

SR Watson1-0-3-0

MA Starc4-0-19-0

And here is Mitchell Johnson, greeted with applause from the WACA crowd as he comes on

8.1

Johnson to Smith,
no run,
gets bounce and zip right away, short of a length, around off, makes Smith hop-and-block

8.2

Johnson to Smith,
no run,
does this Mitch have the luck that the other one doesn't have today? appeal for catch down the leg side, there was a loud sound, but HotSpot shows it was only ball brushing the trousers, sounded a lot more meaty than that

8.3

Johnson to Smith,
no run,
lovely line, moving away from a good length outside off, Smith well forward to defend

8.4

Johnson to Smith,
no run,
almost bounces him out, what a start from Johnson, Smith is not short, he jumped too to play this snorter, but it hit the glove and reared up towards first gully, who cannot get to it in time

8.5

Johnson to Smith,
no run,
hits him on the thigh with one angled in

8.6

Johnson to Smith,
FOUR,
full, into the pads, and Smith sends it racing to the deep square leg rope

End of over 9 (4 runs)
South Africa 34/0

GC Smith15 (24b 1x4)

AN Petersen17 (30b 3x4)

MG Johnson1-0-4-0

SR Watson1-0-3-0

9.1

Watson to Petersen,
no run,
gets across to defend a gentle good length ball outside off

9.2

Watson to Petersen,
1 wide,
wide, and then goes wider, called one too

9.2

Watson to Petersen,
no run,
good length just outside off, but he has enough time to get behind the line and block

9.3

Watson to Petersen,
no run,
that was angled in fuller for off and middle, Petersen a touch late in getting the bat down, but is able to work it towards short leg

9.4

Watson to Petersen,
no run,
straight, good length, outside off, left alone

9.5

Watson to Petersen,
no run,
pitched up again onto the stumps, clipped to midwicket

9.6

Watson to Petersen,
no run,
hint of straightening as he bowls it full again, around off, defended

End of over 10 (1 run)
South Africa 35/0

AN Petersen17 (36b 3x4)

GC Smith15 (24b 1x4)

SR Watson2-0-4-0

MG Johnson1-0-4-0

10.1

Johnson to Smith,
no run,
Mitch is troubling Smith again, he's now gone after a wide and full one that has moved away a bit too much to take the edge

10.2

Johnson to Smith,
1 run,
back of a length and he gets on his toes to punch it past point

10.3

Johnson to Petersen,
no run,
that is a fine leave, line not far from off stump, but Petersen is sure it is not close enough

GK isn't impressed with the senior Mitch's start: "Proof was in that first over from Johnson. Five tremendous deliveries then his patented 'what the fudge' ball to finish the over. This man is so random I'd imagine he'd be fantastic at creating passwords."

11.2

Watson to Smith,
no run,
left alone on the angle that takes it away from off stump

11.3

Watson to Smith,
OUT,
they go in with a new pace attack, but it is that man Watson who strikes, good length, close to off, Smith lunges forward to defend against the sharp angle, and the edge carries safely to first slip

GC Smith c Clarke b Watson 16 (58m 30b 1x4 0x6) SR: 53.33

11.4

Watson to Amla,
no run,
withdraws a hand from the bat as he defends a good length delivery outside off

11.5

Watson to Amla,
2 runs,
full delivery, squeezed through extra cover and Amla is away

11.6

Watson to Amla,
no run,
that is a brave leave, that length ball wasn't far from off stump

End of over 12 (3 runs)
South Africa 40/1

HM Amla2 (3b)

AN Petersen19 (39b 3x4)

SR Watson3-0-7-1

MG Johnson2-0-6-0

12.1

Johnson to Petersen,
no run,
bowled across the right-hander, widish, and immediately left alone

12.2

Johnson to Petersen,
no run,
good line, straightening back of a length very close to off, left alone

12.3

Johnson to Petersen,
no run,
makes him reach him out away from the body to a length delivery going across

12.4

Johnson to Petersen,
2 runs,
full and down the pads this time, and worked square for a couple

Mark: "Good running joke for us Aussies about Johnson. Who's he frustrated more, Batters or fans?"

12.5

Johnson to Petersen,
no run,
short of a length, played out to point

Timmy: "As random as Mitch Sr. may be, he still looks like a genuine wicket-taker... This is also the first time in 17 years I haven't been at the WACA for the Perth test... Gutted."

12.6

Johnson to Petersen,
no run,
opens the face and runs a pitched up delivery towards gully

End of over 13 (2 runs)
South Africa 42/1

AN Petersen21 (45b 3x4)

HM Amla2 (3b)

MG Johnson3-0-8-0

SR Watson3-0-7-1

Hastings is back, replacing the man who replaced him earlier, Watson

13.1

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
wide and moving further away outside off

13.2

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
has him pushing at a full delivery which was angled in, and inside edges it into pad

13.3

Hastings to Amla,
FOUR,
full, straight, and this time he gets it off the middle, and beats mid off's dive to his left

13.4

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
some inward shape now, fullish, blocked in front of off

13.5

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
bounce from a length, and left alone outside off

Mulldog: "If Watson breaks down with injury this test he will set the record for most injuries in a career. This record was created in honor of Shane Watson."

13.6

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
another leave outside off stump, Hastings might be the man in form, but he sure lacks the zip on a day one Perth strip

End of over 14 (4 runs)
South Africa 46/1

HM Amla6 (9b 1x4)

AN Petersen21 (45b 3x4)

JW Hastings4-0-10-0

MG Johnson3-0-8-0

14.1

Johnson to Petersen,
1 run,
full, 138.5 kph, and down the pads, clipped through square leg, there is a man in the deep

14.2

Johnson to Amla,
no run,
saw him stepping across and dug in a bouncer, Amla goes under it right away

kevin: "Why would Clarke take Watson off after taking a wicket and only bowling 3 overs." Because he is Watson?

14.3

Johnson to Amla,
no run,
lovely line, not far from off, angled away, Amla leaves it at the last instant

14.4

Johnson to Amla,
no run,
even better, i like this version of the Mitch, good length, leaving Amla with the angle, he is left pushing inside the line

14.5

Johnson to Amla,
no run,
and again, super stuff, Amla decides to push harder this time, only to be beaten again close to off

14.6

Johnson to Amla,
no run,
now he sends it too wide outside off to interest Amla

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
decent line, if not too much bite, from Hastings, close to off, another leave

15.4

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
133.5 kph now, seems to sit up slightly after pitching good length widish outside off, Amla lets it be

15.5

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
that came in, climbed too, Amla was confident about letting it go though

Patrick: "@Mulldog I think Pat Cummins will be a future record challenger."

15.6

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
130.6 kph, way too far outside off stump

End of over 16 (1 run)
South Africa 48/1

HM Amla6 (18b 1x4)

AN Petersen23 (48b 3x4)

JW Hastings5-0-11-0

MG Johnson4-0-9-0

Jason: "@Mulldog I believe the record still stays with Shane, but not Watson, Bond." That man used to take a break from injuries to play a few. What a shame

16.1

Johnson to Petersen,
no run,
loud appeal for leg before, is it Mitch's day, umpire Kettleborough remains unmoved, pitches middle and leg and hits him on the flap, going over

16.2

Johnson to Petersen,
no run,
gets the front foot out to block a pitched up delivery

16.3

Johnson to Petersen,
no run,
too wide this time with the angle

16.4

Johnson to Petersen,
no run,
pitched up full and driven without too much timing or power to mid off

Jonesy to the Mitch's defence: "If Johnson never bowled a bad ball again you sad bunch would find something else to complain about. Look at the rubbish Morne Morkel dishes up among the unplayables, hes the same sort of bowler, as inconsistent as they are dangerous. And by the way that Smith wicket is basically Johnson's, softened him up, got him thinking about facing the next over and nicks a Watson ball to his counterpart.."

16.5

Johnson to Petersen,
1 wide,
short, 140 kph, batsman gets out of the way, it's called a wide, got too high

16.5

Johnson to Petersen,
no run,
allows it go with the angle outside off, bounce from back of a length for Johnson

16.6

Johnson to Petersen,
no run,
full and swinging in a shade towards the pads, driven crislpy to mid on

End of over 17 (1 run)
South Africa 49/1

AN Petersen23 (54b 3x4)

HM Amla6 (18b 1x4)

MG Johnson5-0-10-0

JW Hastings5-0-11-0

17.1

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
left alone as it climbs outside off

17.2

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
bounce from just back of a length, but comes slowly off the pitch and defended easily

17.3

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
pitched up for the drive, Amla waits and goes hard at it with fast hands, finds mid off

17.4

Hastings to Amla,
FOUR,
there was not much width on this length ball but Amla had decided to go for it, and slams it through point off the back foot

17.5

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
slightly late in coming forward, manages to defend the length ball to mid on

17.6

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
wants to force another one through the off side, not much room once more, and he mistimes it onto the pitch

End of over 18 (4 runs)
South Africa 53/1

HM Amla10 (24b 2x4)

AN Petersen23 (54b 3x4)

JW Hastings6-0-15-0

MG Johnson5-0-10-0

Starc is back

18.1

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
has a look and allows it go past outside off from a length

Asho: "The movie 2012 is on after the cricket tonight in Sydney. Having a look at the over rate it mightn't start until 2013." Ha

18.2

Starc to Petersen,
no run

18.3

Starc to Petersen,
FOUR,
back of a length, he gets on top of the bounce and slashes it to the third man boundary between slips and gully

18.4

Starc to Petersen,
1 run,
pitched up, worked through midwicket

18.5

Starc to Amla,
1 run,
back of a length but on middle and Amla shuffles to nudge it square on leg

18.6

Starc to Petersen,
1 run,
punches a length delivery off the back foot past point

End of over 19 (7 runs)
South Africa 60/1

AN Petersen29 (59b 4x4)

HM Amla11 (25b 2x4)

MA Starc5-0-26-0

JW Hastings6-0-15-0

19.1

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
he is getting slight inswing into the right-hander, who comes across and works a pitched up delivery to the leg side

19.2

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
more shape in to Petersen, but he leaves it safely

19.3

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
beats him this time, this one didn't come in, carried straight on from a good length, Petersen has a prod away from the body

19.4

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
has a drive at a wide and full one now, closes the face and hits it to the bowler

19.5

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
handled well this time, brings him forward with the pitched up length, defended

19.6

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
fullish length has him going forward once again, blocks it out

End of over 20 (maiden)
South Africa 60/1

AN Petersen29 (65b 4x4)

HM Amla11 (25b 2x4)

JW Hastings7-1-15-0

MA Starc5-0-26-0

20.1

Starc to Amla,
no run,
wide outside off, runs it to gully

20.2

Starc to Amla,
no run

20.3

Starc to Amla,
no run,
not too much room, but Amla still punches, to covers

20.4

Starc to Amla,
no run,
a bit late on this one as it moves in from good length, thick edged to the leg side

20.5

Starc to Amla,
no run,
pitched up full, Amla is behind it with a confident push, to mid off

20.6

Starc to Amla,
no run,
going across with the angle, good length, left alone

End of over 21 (maiden)
South Africa 60/1

HM Amla11 (31b 2x4)

AN Petersen29 (65b 4x4)

MA Starc6-1-26-0

JW Hastings7-1-15-0

21.1

Hastings to Petersen,
no run,
just short of a length and easily played from the crease towards point

Hastings to Petersen,
1 run,
pushes a full delivery wide of mid off and takes the single safely, throw misses at the non-striker's end

21.5

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
that was close in the end, Amla left it early, it came back in sharply and wasn't far from off

21.6

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
tries the short ball, 125.6 kph, outside off, and Amla isn't bothered at all

End of over 22 (1 run)
South Africa 61/1

HM Amla11 (33b 2x4)

AN Petersen30 (69b 4x4)

JW Hastings8-1-16-0

MA Starc6-1-26-0

22.1

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
rides the bounce in this short of a length ball and runs it to point

Lyon warming up

22.2

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
right on middle stump, good length, defended

22.3

Starc to Petersen,
no run,
worked towards midwicket

22.4

Starc to Petersen,
OUT,
Starc breaks through, close to lunch, the fuller length and late inswing does it, Petersen plays outside the line, it bursts through the gate and his stumps are rattled, Starc is delighted, the crowd roars, and then they have to check for the no-ball, drains the moment of all spontaneity, halts it midway, but Starc is safe, and the celebration can resume

AN Petersen b Starc 30 (106m 73b 4x4 0x6) SR: 41.09

22.5

Starc to Kallis,
1 run,
pitched up, and he drives at it immediately, gully stops it with a dive

22.6

Starc to Amla,
no run,
played out towards midwicket

End of over 23 (1 run)
South Africa 62/2

HM Amla11 (34b 2x4)

JH Kallis1 (1b)

MA Starc7-1-27-1

JW Hastings8-1-16-0

23.1

Hastings to Kallis,
no run,
good length, straight outside off, and left alone

23.2

Hastings to Kallis,
no run,
a touch hesitant in getting forward, it rises from a length, and hits the defensive bat close to the top

23.3

Hastings to Kallis,
1 run,
down the leg side with too much angle, and helped along to fine leg

23.4

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
widish outside off and no need to play at it

Brenton: "That Starc wicket wasn't even close to a no ball. This constant checking is ruining the theatre of the sport, it's a farce."

23.5

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
good length, around off, he squeezes it towards point from the crease

23.6

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
full, but too wide outside off

End of over 24 (1 run)
South Africa 63/2

HM Amla11 (37b 2x4)

JH Kallis2 (4b)

JW Hastings9-1-17-0

MA Starc7-1-27-1

24.1

Starc to Kallis,
no run,
whoa, nearly got him, Kallis was pushing forward initially, then it reared at him from back of a length, just manages to fend it short of the cordon

24.2

Starc to Kallis,
no run,
pitched up, pushed to mid off

24.3

Starc to Kallis,
OUT,
Mitchell Starc, you beauty, you ripper, you've taken out the great man at the stroke of lunch, similar to the way Petersen went, bowled through the gate, pitched up full, swinging in late, Kallis lured into a drive without moving his feet, and another one sneaks through

JH Kallis b Starc 2 (8m 7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 28.57

24.4

Starc to de Villiers,
no run,
left alone with the angle outside off

24.5

Starc to de Villiers,
no run,
that full length again, but angled across the right-hander, who lets it go late

24.6

Starc to de Villiers,
no run,
AB lets another one go through outside off on the angle, and Australia go to lunch with a starc advantage

Starc rattling South Africa with those two wickets close to lunch, but it was the other Mitch who set up the breakthrough, softening up Smith before he fell to Watson. The pitch hasn't done an awful lot, there have been a few lifters but that has been about it. The things good bowling can do.

Geoff Taylor: "Agree with the last comment. Memo Fast men! Pitch it up and swing the bloody thing!"

Sam Cupitt: "...tries to bite tongue.... Nope. That's why Starc should have been in for Hilfenhaus earlier. Something a little bit different and a little bit in form."

Bunny: "Looks like Starc has got over the disappointment of me bowling him out 6 years ago when was playing for Auburn 4th Grade."

End of over 25 (wicket maiden)
South Africa 63/3

AB de Villiers0 (3b)

HM Amla11 (37b 2x4)

MA Starc8-2-27-2

JW Hastings9-1-17-0

Back for the second session. How about a left-arm Mitch from either end? It will be Hastings instead

25.1

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
that has straightened after hitting the pitch back of a length, Amla drops his wrists and lets it go

25.2

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
similar line, hint of straightening again, fuller length, left alone

25.3

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
some half-shouts for lbw, but that length ball had too much angle on it, and was going down leg

25.4

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
good delivery, pitched up on off stump, Amla bends low to keep it out

25.5

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
dropped at short midwicket, Ed Cowan it is, who gets Amla's clip at a decent height to his left, gets both hands to the ball, and lets it slip out

25.6

Hastings to Amla,
no run,
the previous one was angled in, this one straightens, kicks and beats a surprised Amla outside off

End of over 26 (maiden)
South Africa 63/3

HM Amla11 (43b 2x4)

AB de Villiers0 (3b)

JW Hastings10-2-17-0

MA Starc8-2-27-2

Johnson to bowl now

26.1

Johnson to de Villiers,
no run,
short of a length, and ending just outside off, defended

26.2

Johnson to de Villiers,
FOUR,
full outside off, AB goes after it and squeezes it to the right of gully, was in the air for a while

26.3

Johnson to de Villiers,
no run,
good length ball just outside off, blocked

26.4

Johnson to de Villiers,
no run,
pitched up, close to off stump, AB lets it go

Johnson to de Villiers,
OUT,
trouble, trouble, Amla cannot build on that drop, AB taps to covers and runs, Warner runs in too, from point, picks up the ball and catches Amla just short with a direct hit

HM Amla run out 11 (69m 43b 2x4 0x6) SR: 25.58

Dean Elgar walks in on Test debut

26.6

Johnson to Elgar,
no run,
and he gets a furious climber from back of a length, fortunately for him it is some way outside off, and he does not have to play at it

End of over 27 (4 runs)
South Africa 67/4

D Elgar0 (1b)

AB de Villiers4 (8b 1x4)

MG Johnson6-0-14-0

JW Hastings10-2-17-0

27.1

Hastings to de Villiers,
no run,
slight movement away but starts too wide to tempt the batsman

27.2

Hastings to de Villiers,
no run,
floated up wide for the drive again, AB is not going for it

27.3

Hastings to de Villiers,
no run,
Hastings sticks to that widish line outside off, AB keeps on leaving 'em

27.4

Hastings to de Villiers,
OUT,
Hastings has his first Test strike, not by brute force, but a simple ploy of keeping it full outside off stump, this one was angled in closer, made AB push at it, and then changed direction sharply, swerving away to take a healthy nick into the captain's hands at first slip

AB de Villiers c Clarke b Hastings 4 (15m 12b 1x4 0x6) SR: 33.33

27.5

Hastings to du Plessis,
FOUR,
almost another one, Faf is squared up by one that straightens on off after being angled in, thick edge runs past the cordon

27.6

Hastings to du Plessis,
no run,
defended off the front foot to cover-point

End of over 28 (4 runs)
South Africa 71/5

F du Plessis4 (2b 1x4)

D Elgar0 (1b)

JW Hastings11-2-21-1

MG Johnson6-0-14-0

Tim Haskett cannot help it: "Customary Tassadaq timing," he chortles

28.1

Johnson to Elgar,
no run

28.2

Johnson to Elgar,
no run,
hurries him with a 141.7 kph length ball that bounces into the body as he shuffles and misses the work to leg

28.3

Johnson to Elgar,
no run,
that is seriously quick, nearly 144 kph, length ball not far from off stump, he leaves it from the crease

28.4

Johnson to Elgar,
no run,
that moved away late and full, he patted it towards covers and set off for his first Test run before realising there wasn't any

28.5

Johnson to Elgar,
no run,
stands in the crease and allows a good length ball to go past outside off, not a good idea if one of them zooms back in

28.6

Johnson to Elgar,
no run,
much closer to off stump, much fuller too, blocked

End of over 29 (maiden)
South Africa 71/5

D Elgar0 (7b)

F du Plessis4 (2b 1x4)

MG Johnson7-1-14-0

JW Hastings11-2-21-1

29.1

Hastings to du Plessis,
FOUR,
Hastings continues to find the edge, he angles it in sharply, gets it to straighten, and the ball flies between slips and gully

29.2

Hastings to du Plessis,
no run,
appeal for leg before, he was playing for the straightening this time, it carried in with the angle, hit him on the pad, but there was an inside edge before that

29.3

Hastings to du Plessis,
no run,
holds its line on middle after being sent in from wide of the crease, defended, Hastings in fine rhythm now

29.4

Hastings to du Plessis,
no run,
back of a length now, and defended easily

29.5

Hastings to du Plessis,
no run,
goes across to a good length ball and defends

29.6

Hastings to du Plessis,
no run,
he is creating problems, he's found a fuller length, this one nips back in and hits the batsman as he looks to shuffle across and defend

End of over 30 (4 runs)
South Africa 75/5

F du Plessis8 (8b 2x4)

D Elgar0 (7b)

JW Hastings12-2-25-1

MG Johnson7-1-14-0

30.1

Johnson to Elgar,
no run,
pitched up, worked away eagerly but right to short leg, cannot get that single

30.2

Johnson to Elgar,
no run,
here comes the short ball, right at the throat, Elgar keeps it down well in the end, off the glove

30.3

Johnson to Elgar,
no run,
moving away from a good length now, he is again staying in the crease and letting it go

30.4

Johnson to Elgar,
no run,
playing a pitched up delivery from the crease, drops it softly to the off

30.5

Johnson to Elgar,
OUT,
Mitchell Johnson has deserved this wicket, if not a couple more today, he's had Elgar expecting the short ball, sent in a few pitched up deliveries, and now he digs it into the body, it doesn't rise too much, Elgar pulls awkwardly, Wade settles under the tame top-edge

D Elgar c †Wade b Johnson 0 (19m 12b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Four slips, gully, short leg, leg gully

30.6

Johnson to Peterson,
no run,
and he almost gets another one, full, quick, and nearly shaves the off stump, after beating the left-hander

Watson to du Plessis,
no run,
pats a full delivery to the man at short mid on, next to the pitch

37.4

Watson to du Plessis,
no run,
another one holds its line outside off, gets a leave

37.5

Watson to du Plessis,
no run,
that goes through to the keeper down the leg side, could have brushed pad on its way

37.6

Watson to du Plessis,
1 run,
works a full delivery wide of mid on for a quick single

End of over 38 (1 run)
South Africa 98/6

F du Plessis17 (31b 4x4)

RJ Peterson14 (20b 1x4)

SR Watson5-1-8-1

MA Starc9-3-27-2

Peter: "Despite being a fan, the time really has come for AB to pass on the gloves to a specialist in order to focus on his batting. He's a shadow of the bastman he was before the England series. The extra batsman has not proven effective enough to sustain his dual role."

38.1

Starc to du Plessis,
2 runs,
full and straightening but offering some width and squeezed through extra cover

38.2

Starc to du Plessis,
no run,
on middle now, defended softly to short midwicket

38.3

Starc to du Plessis,
no run,
drives down the pitch but bowles gets a hand to it and takes all pace off it

38.4

Starc to du Plessis,
no run,
left alone outside off with the angle going across

38.5

Starc to du Plessis,
3 runs,
just slight width, and he cracks it past point powerfully, Warner slides to stop it just inside

38.6

Starc to Peterson,
no run,
punched to covers off the back foot

End of over 39 (5 runs)
South Africa 103/6

RJ Peterson14 (21b 1x4)

F du Plessis22 (36b 4x4)

MA Starc10-3-32-2

SR Watson5-1-8-1

39.1

Watson to du Plessis,
no run,
defends a pitched up delivery on off stump

39.2

Watson to du Plessis,
no run,
holds its line some way outside off, he allows it to go past

39.3

Watson to du Plessis,
no run,
Umpire Rauf shakes his head, Australia are reviewing a lbw appeal, pitched up, angled in, there are two noises, one of them is bat hitting pad, the other of ball crashing into pad, ball tracker, however, shows it sliding just down leg, and Australia lose the review,

39.4

Watson to du Plessis,
1 run,
clipped off the pad through midwicket

39.5

Watson to Peterson,
no run,
pushes at one leaving him outside off, just back of a length, falls short of gully

39.6

Watson to Peterson,
no run,
bowled full on off now, whipped down to mid on

End of over 40 (1 run)
South Africa 104/6

RJ Peterson14 (23b 1x4)

F du Plessis23 (40b 4x4)

SR Watson6-1-9-1

MA Starc10-3-32-2

40.1

Starc to du Plessis,
no run

40.2

Starc to du Plessis,
no run,
has him awkwardly nudging a length ball to leg as it straightens

40.3

Starc to du Plessis,
1 run,
good length, and worked off middle and leg wide of mid on

40.4

Starc to Peterson,
FOUR,
pitched up for the drive, and Peterson obliges as he sends it racing to the extra cover rope

40.5

Starc to Peterson,
1 run,
clipped off the pad through square leg

40.6

Starc to du Plessis,
no run,
defended without trouble to the leg side

End of over 41 (6 runs)
South Africa 110/6

F du Plessis24 (44b 4x4)

RJ Peterson19 (25b 2x4)

MA Starc11-3-38-2

SR Watson6-1-9-1

41.1

Watson to Peterson,
no run,
pitched up and angled across, squeezed out to point

41.2

Watson to Peterson,
no run

41.3

Watson to Peterson,
FOUR,
good delivery, it was going across, held its line a tad, took the inside edge and flew fine down the leg side

41.4

Watson to Peterson,
no run,
gets forward and across and drives to cover-point

41.5

Watson to Peterson,
1 run,
goes back in the crease and whips a short of a length ball to square leg

41.6

Watson to du Plessis,
no run,
pitched right up on off stump, patted softly to short mid on

End of over 42 (5 runs)
South Africa 115/6

F du Plessis24 (45b 4x4)

RJ Peterson24 (30b 3x4)

SR Watson7-1-14-1

MA Starc11-3-38-2

42.1

Starc to Peterson,
no run,
thick edge runs to point as he looks to defend a length ball

42.2

Starc to Peterson,
3 runs,
on middle stump, good length, clipped through midwicket

42.3

Starc to du Plessis,
no run,
bowled very full, he brings bat down in time to push it to the off side

Justin: "NOTE TO SOUTH AFRICAN TOP ORDER: Positivity yields runs. Being conservative does not. Proven by Du Plessis & Peterson."

42.4

Starc to du Plessis,
FOUR,
width, on a full one outside off, and Faf puts it away elegantly through extra cover, flowing followthrough

42.5

Starc to du Plessis,
2 runs,
on the pads now, full again, clipped wristily in front of square leg

42.6

Starc to du Plessis,
no run,
back of a length, punched off the back foot to mid off

End of over 43 (9 runs)
South Africa 124/6

F du Plessis30 (49b 5x4)

RJ Peterson27 (32b 3x4)

MA Starc12-3-47-2

SR Watson7-1-14-1

Lyon on to improve the over-rate, slip, silly point

43.1

Lyon to Peterson,
1 run,
drives a full one to deep point

43.2

Lyon to du Plessis,
no run,
full again, whipped to mid on from around off

43.3

Lyon to du Plessis,
no run,
has him coming down the track this time, with a flighted one, it dips, Faf loses balance, but manages to defend

43.4

Lyon to du Plessis,
no run,
goes across and outside off and defends one turning in

43.5

Lyon to du Plessis,
1 run,
again he is drawn out with the flight, again he is beaten as it dips and turns, thick inside edge to short fine leg

43.6

Lyon to Peterson,
no run,
width, but cut straight to point

End of over 44 (2 runs)
South Africa 126/6

RJ Peterson28 (34b 3x4)

F du Plessis31 (53b 5x4)

NM Lyon1-0-2-0

MA Starc12-3-47-2

Hastings returns

44.1

Hastings to du Plessis,
no run,
on the front foot to defend, but is surprised as it rises a bit from good length, pushes awkwardly at it

44.2

Hastings to du Plessis,
no run,
pitched up and pushed straight to short mid on, who is close to the non-striker

Two slips, gully

44.3

Hastings to du Plessis,
no run,
coming in slightly, good length, a shuffle across and a block

Geoff: "2 test matches in and as an Aussie fan I think I've already seen enough of du Plessis to last me for a while. I can see him giving us trouble for a long time to come."

44.4

Hastings to du Plessis,
no run,
again a little inward shape, but this time too far outside off, and left alone

44.5

Hastings to du Plessis,
2 runs,
nothing much at all in this back of a length ball, pulled through square leg, man from fine leg runs across

Lyon to du Plessis,
no run,
bowled full outside off, pushed away to mid off

Brett: "Are we sure Du Plessis is not VVS in disguise? He is fast becoming our bane."

End of over 46 (3 runs)
South Africa 131/6

F du Plessis34 (63b 5x4)

RJ Peterson30 (36b 3x4)

NM Lyon2-0-5-0

JW Hastings15-2-42-1

46.1

Hastings to Peterson,
no run,
a leave to an angled good length delivery outside off

46.2

Hastings to Peterson,
no run,
pushed to cover-point off the front foot

46.3

Hastings to Peterson,
no run,
defends a good length ball down the pitch

46.4

Hastings to Peterson,
no run,
a stifled appeal for leg before, that hit him above the knee roll though

46.5

Hastings to Peterson,
no run,
and again, struck high on the leg with a length delivery that rises, too high again

46.6

Hastings to Peterson,
1 run,
gets bat to ball now as he works a length ball through square leg

End of over 47 (1 run)
South Africa 132/6

RJ Peterson31 (42b 3x4)

F du Plessis34 (63b 5x4)

JW Hastings16-2-43-1

NM Lyon2-0-5-0

47.1

Lyon to Peterson,
no run,
gets across outside off and shoulders arms

47.2

Lyon to Peterson,
no run,
defends a flighted delivery to the off side

47.3

Lyon to Peterson,
OUT,
Lyon has struck, against the run of play, short of a length delivery, wide too, there to be cut, but it kicks and turns, Peterson chases it and edges it through to Wade, who had moved into position behind the line very well

RJ Peterson c †Wade b Lyon 31 (74m 45b 3x4 0x6) SR: 68.88

47.4

Lyon to Philander,
no run,
defended off the front foot, off a thick inside edge

47.5

Lyon to Philander,
no run,
stays in the crease, allows it to spin in, and blocks

47.6

Lyon to Philander,
1 run,
almost another one, inside edge flies past a diving short leg as he pushes forward to defend, excellent start for Lyon

End of over 48 (1 run)
South Africa 133/7

VD Philander1 (3b)

F du Plessis34 (63b 5x4)

NM Lyon3-0-6-1

JW Hastings16-2-43-1

48.1

Johnson to Philander,
no run,
Johnson returns and beats him with a length ball on off stump, his line has been alright today

48.2

Johnson to Philander,
no run,
full and straight on the stumps, defended

48.3

Johnson to Philander,
no run,
gets low to keep out a pitched up ball outside off

48.4

Johnson to Philander,
no run,
opens up to a length ball and blocks it tidily

48.5

Johnson to Philander,
no run,
drives but closes the face and bowler fields the full delivery

48.6

Johnson to Philander,
no run,
angled some way outside off and he is not playing it

End of over 49 (maiden)
South Africa 133/7

VD Philander1 (9b)

F du Plessis34 (63b 5x4)

MG Johnson11-3-21-1

NM Lyon3-0-6-1

49.1

Lyon to du Plessis,
1 run,
brings him forward to a tossed up ball, which is pushed to mid off, there could have been a chance at the non-striker's but the throw from Johnson went to the other end

49.2

Lyon to Philander,
1 run,
pushed to mid on for an easier single this time

49.3

Lyon to du Plessis,
no run,
goes forward and nudges with the spin to short leg

49.4

Lyon to du Plessis,
no run,
another front foot push, short leg fields

49.5

Lyon to du Plessis,
no run,
quikcish one spinning in at 92 kph, worked to short leg

49.6

Lyon to du Plessis,
no run,
didn;t turn as much this one, rushed on outside off, defended